Sharing in the Mission of Jesus to Pray, Worship, and Live As Jesus Taught
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Sharing in the Mission of Jesus To pray, worship, and live as Jesus taught TARGET AUDIENCE K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Overview This Object demonstrates how Christians share in the priestly mission of Jesus in a particular way by living and working as he did. The multimedia element of this Object displays two case studies. The case studies depict how two Brigidine schools are striving to live a Christian way of life: St Joseph’s, Echuca; and Kilbreda College, Mentone. The case studies show how these schools incorporate the Brigidine ethos into their activities. The founder of the Brigidine Sisters, Daniel Delaney, is included in the Inspiration From Our Founders Object. Teacher Background Teachers are encouraged to review the ‘Living a Eucharistic Life’ section of the DVD Rom Become One Body One Spirit in Christ to deepen their understanding of: the call to ‘go forth’ and live the mission of the Gospel in our daily lives; how we are called to live our Catholic and Christian faith; and the meaning of the Eucharist in our lives. In particular, the following aspects of Become One Body One Spirit in Christ provide entry points and context for this Learning Object: • Within the pathway ‘Believe, Pray, and Act’, watch the video ‘Young People Living and Praying’. Where appropriate, use this material with the students. Supporting Content This text supports the focus of the multimedia element. Through Baptism, Jesus’ followers receive the power of Jesus to love as he does. To grow in Christian love, Christians need to be nourished by receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. The Eucharist nourishes all spiritual gifts, including those of Baptism and Confirmation. It is these gifts that we take out to the world. Jesus calls all present during Mass to offer their lives, together with his, to God the Father. This includes their prayers, works, joys, hardships, sufferings, © National Catholic Education Commission 2011 Sharing in the Mission of Jesus To pray, worship, and live as Jesus taught Supporting Content difficulties, temptations and successes. Because of the suffering of Jesus, the Mass is the greatest of all the prayers people can offer to God. To the extent that the followers of Jesus pray, worship and live as he taught, his power grows stronger within them. No one can live as a Christian without this spiritual power. Jesus commanded that all who believe in him receive Baptism: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… (Matthew 28:19) Baptised Christians share in the priestly mission of Jesus in a particular way by living and working as he did. CASE STUDIES: TRYING TO LIVE AS JESUS DID Brigidine Schools in Victoria and South Australia Students in Brigidine schools across Victoria and South Australia undertake religious education programs that aim to deepen knowledge and understanding of what it means to live a Christian way of life. One of the Core Values for an education that is Brigidine is ‘Image and practise justice and service’. An educating for justice program, the Justice and Democracy Forum (JDF), operates in all Brigidine schools using the following charter as inspiration: We believe: • The Jesus of the Gospel calls us to justice in daily life • We need to work together to make things better • Collaborative effort is more effective than individual effort • We have the capacity to make a difference in ourselves and in our world We hope: • Meetings will be an opportunity to exchange hopes and ideas • There will be opportunities for discussion, dialogue, action and reflection We will: • Make a commitment to attend meetings regularly during the year • Be part of the process of trying to relate what we say to what we do • Support each other in the group © National Catholic Education Commission 2011 Sharing in the Mission of Jesus To pray, worship, and live as Jesus taught Supporting Content • Be non-judgmental when listening to the ideas and experiences of the other group members • Give up some of our own time • Be willing to take appropriate action Student JDF groups are mentored by teachers who seek to challenge young people to explore what it means to live justly. In this they are inspired by the example of St Brigid and the founder of the Congregation of St Brigid, Bishop Daniel Delany. St Brigid was renowned for her hospitality and generosity to all she encountered. She had a special love for the poor and vulnerable of her time. ‘From the beginning, Brigid’s ministry was associated with deeds of hospitality and compassion, and down through the centuries St Brigid has become a wisdom figure to the Irish people.’ (Kildare Ministries: Enkindling the Fire, ‘Vision and Values’, 2011) Brigid’s dual monastery in Kildare was famous throughout Ireland. Bishop Daniel Delany lived in Ireland in a time of great upheaval and unrest, a time of rebellion against tyranny. In addressing the needs of Ireland’s impoverished people in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, ‘he gathered groups of women to help him introduce education to the people as a means of empowering them and enlivening their faith.’ (Kildare Ministries: Enkindling the Fire, ‘Vision and Values’, 2011). Bishop Delany took St Brigid as his inspiration to educate the poor and vulnerable of his time. In placing the Brigidines and their works under the patronage of St Brigid of Kildare, he insisted that he was not founding a new congregation but re-founding the ancient Order of St Brigid, and thereby committing the sisters to a hallowed tradition of hospitality and service to all comers. (Kildare Ministries: Enkindling the Fire, ‘Vision and Values’, 2011) The following are extracts from Kildare Ministries: Enkindling the Fire, ‘Vision and Values’, 2011 focus on the centrality of Eucharist: Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (1 Cor 10:17) In Cogitosus’ writing … Brigid is presented as a woman captivated by © National Catholic Education Commission 2011 Sharing in the Mission of Jesus To pray, worship, and live as Jesus taught Supporting Content the fire of the gospel, a person of immense energy, compassion and generosity. The centrality of Eucharist in the Catholic tradition, and in the legacy of Daniel Delany, who showed by example and exhorted the early sisters to come to the Eucharist in their need, is upheld in Brigidine schools. To be Eucharistic people today is to be like Jesus, with a focus on the needs of others, the needs of the world, with eyes looking outward in search for ways to bring the reign of God closer in the world. St Joseph’s, Echuca Introduction St Joseph’s College is a dynamic, welcoming and hope-filled school that promotes excellence and equity, so that all students can become confident and creative learners. Steeped in our Catholic and Brigidine heritage, we have provided quality education and a vibrant community for the families of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales since 1886. This year we are 125 years old. The College motto ‘Strength and Kindliness’ derives from that of Bishop Daniel Delany of Kildare (Ireland), who founded the order of the Sisters of St. Brigid in 1807. St. Brigid, who lived in Ireland in the fifth century, was a woman of great initiative and faith, and her sense of compassion, social justice and generosity were legendary. We are inspired by our Core Values to: Be faithful to our Catholic heritage Welcome all people, especially the most vulnerable Celebrate all that is good with joy and gratitude Engender a love of learning, hope and a sense of purpose Image and practise justice and service Social Justice Projects At St Joe’s We image and practice justice and services. At St Joseph’s College we are strongly committed to social justice projects that work toward creating a better society for us all. © National Catholic Education Commission 2011 Sharing in the Mission of Jesus To pray, worship, and live as Jesus taught Supporting Content In 2011, we have four main groups focusing on a range of Social Justice Projects: Year 11 Justice and Peace Leaders So far this year they have been working on raising an awareness of Asylum Seekers in Australia. They held a Butterfly Morning Tea which was a girls activity. Girls were invited to participate and to listen to a guest speaker. The guest speaker was a young woman from Iran. As a follow up to this students in Year 9, 10 and 11 groups were invited to take part in a workshop, two weeks later, on simulating what it would be like to be an asylum seeker. Year 11 Justice and Democracy Students in the Year 11 Justice and Democracy Group are part of a larger group of students in Brigidine Associated Secondary Schools who are willing to spend regular time together to: Reflect on their roles as students in a Christian school working for a just and democratic society Exchange hopes and ideas about aspects of their lives concerned with justice and democracy Support the idea that good citizenship flows out of reflection on what it means to live in a just society Grow in leadership and Engage in some action (either as a group or an individual) This year Justice and Democracy students have been involved in a wide range of services to our school and wider community. They work with groups on Retreat Days. They have prepared the Shrove Tuesday pancakes and the Sausage Sizzle on Foundation Day.